Three parties have formed “Patriots for Europe” to increase influence for right-wing leaders
Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban has announced the formation of a new European Parliament alliance, in collaboration with right-wing parties from Austria and the Czech Republic. This announcement comes one day before Budapest assumes the rotating six-month EU presidency.
The new group, dubbed “Patriots for Europe,” consists of Fidesz (Orban’s party), ANO (the Czech Republic’s largest opposition bloc led by former Prime Minister Andrej Babis), and the Austrian Freedom Party (FPO) headed by Herbert Kickl.
“Today we are creating a political formation that I believe will very quickly become the largest faction of the European right-wing,” Orban stated during a press briefing attended by Babis and Kickl. He expressed confidence that the alliance would dominate the right side of the EU’s political spectrum.
According to the Hungarian leader, EU policies must be adjusted to reflect the results of the recent European Parliament elections. He emphasized that the current political groups will inevitably fragment.
The results of the June 9th election showed that citizens across the 27-nation bloc largely shifted away from the left, though the performance of right-wing and conservative parties varied by country. The ruling coalitions in Germany, France, and Italy were effectively dismantled by the right.
Orban’s Fidesz secured 11 seats in the EU parliament, while FPO and ANO obtained six and seven seats respectively. Notably, all three parties emerged as the strongest in their respective countries during the elections.
According to current regulations, 23 members are required to establish a political group in the European Parliament. Additionally, at least one-quarter of the member states must be represented within the alliance.
In a statement to the media, the leaders of the three parties expressed optimism that the new group would attract many other European parties in the coming days.
Hungary is poised to assume the presidency of the Council of the European Union on July 1st, retaining this position until year’s end. During this period, Hungarian diplomats will chair meetings in Brussels and shape the EU’s political agenda.
Orban has faced significant criticism within the EU for pursuing policies that contradict Brussels’ stance. Since the start of the Ukraine conflict in 2022, Budapest has refused to provide arms to Kyiv, advocating for a diplomatic solution instead. Furthermore, Hungary has maintained economic ties with Russia. The prime minister previously stated that the election outcomes provided the bloc with time and “slowed the train hurtling towards war.”